My Test XI (2016)

My Test XI(2016)

A simple glance at the photo above is enough to express the beauty of the dying art that is Test Cricket. I use the word 'dying art' because of a number of reasons. The first being that currently, there is no team in the world that can win away from home on a consistent basis. I'll get into the reasons of that in another article which i will be writing soon, which also happens to be based on Test Cricket. Secondly, there seems to be a paucity of quality spinners. By quality spinners, I do not mean winding up the opposition on a dusty wicket. I mean getting wickets outside of the sub-continent. Currently, only one spinner stands out for me, and that is Yasir Shah. Anyway, without diverting too much off the main topic, here is a compilation of my modern day Test XI;

1) Tom Latham (New Zealand)

Tom Latham, being just 24 years of age, is one of the better openers out there. Highly under-rated, this Kiwi batsman proved his mettle in the recently concluded tour of India, not just in the Test's, but in the ODI's as well. Solid in defense, a good leaver of the ball, pin point cover drives and has a brilliant sweep to add to his range of shots. This youngster pretty much possesses all of the qualities of a great opener. The only downside I can think of is that he often gets out soon after making a half century. Though, I'm sure after playing under someone of the class of Kane Williamson, that will change very soon. 

2) Murali Vijay (India)

Over the past 3 years, Murali Vijay has emerged as India's best Test player, in my opinion. Vijay's main strength lies in his consistency. He has had to play with a lot of different openers in the past couple of years, but he has managed to do a really good job from his end. Be it in England, Australia or South Africa, Vijay has shown his class throughout. Vijay also happens to be a very good leaver of the cricket ball, the best out there in modern day cricket. Similar to Latham though, Vijay seems to have a lapse in concentration in his game. Often, he starts the series off on a good note but fails to make an impact in the last couple of matches. Statistics, too, support my point.

3) Joe Root (England)

Walking into bat for Awesome XI(yes, that would be my team's name) at number 3, will be Joe Root. Root is probably the most complete batsman in world cricket at the moment. Equally good off the front foot and back foot, against pace and spin too, which is a very rare quality for anyone to possess. Root has transformed from an immature boy(The David Warner incident) to England's main batsman and arguably the best in the world. Very good captaincy material, too. Not too long till he takes over from Cook as the captain. Though, I won't make him the captain of this Test XI. The captain might come as a bit of surprise to a few of you.

4) Sarfaraz Ahmed (Pakistan) (Captain)

Sarfaraz Ahmed will be the captain of this Test XI. I don't understand why he comes so late down the order in International cricket. Sarfaraz is a confidence player, the more he plays, the better he gets. Perhaps one of the most under-rated cricketer's out there. As far as captaincy goes, I've seen him lead his side in a few T20's against the West Indies, and he seemed to perform a lot better than he normally does. There are very few people who tend to flourish when given the added responsibility, Sarfaraz definitely belongs to that crop of players. Can change the game in just a matter of a few overs with his unique style of batting. Number 4 is the perfect position for Sarfaraz Ahmed.

5) Virat Kohli (India) (Vice-Captain)

Virat Kohli just edges ahead of Kane Williamson in this side, due to the extra facets that he brings to his game. By that, I mean better fielding, better leadership skills and performs consistently under pressure.(Kohli averages over 60 in the 4th innings, only behind Sir Don Bradman). Anyhow, Kane Williamson is a class player, there is no denying that. Perhaps, if he had a better tour of India, I would have put him in at number 5. Kohli, though, whichever side he represents, tends to be the leader. I would like to see how Kohli would play under someone else in Test Cricket, for a prolonged period of time. Will it affect his game, or it won't affect him at all is the question.

6) Quinton De Kock (South Africa) (Keeper)

Quinton De Kock has gone from strength to strength ever since his debut for South Africa. While ODI cricket has always been his strong format, he has been playing some brilliant cricket even in the longer format lately. Still a very young player, he has all the makings to become a great of the future. People talk about the 'fabulous four' of the modern generation(Root, Smith, Kohli, Williamson), but De Kock is right up there, in my opinion. Perhaps, just a tad bit behind in the consistency column, but that will come with age, definitely. Add to that his spectacular wicket keeping abilities, and you have the perfect number 6.

7) Ben Stokes (England)

Ben Stokes, is without a doubt, the best all rounder in the world at the moment. Who wouldn't want the player who has scored the fastest double hundred in Test cricket history in their team? He unsettles the spinners very early on by smoking a few straight down the ground, which is a very important quality for a lower order batsman these days. We saw him put Ashwin off his line and length, in the first Test match. Had a knack of scoring a lot of duck's initially, in his early days. But the evolution in his game over the past couple of years has been absolutely unbelievable. Kudos to the ECB for persisting with Stokes, despite his early failures. Stokes has also developed the ability to reverse swing the old ball and has used it effectively in recent times. This is a very crucial factor, especially if you can have your extra seamer extracting reverse off the pitch.

8) Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)

Shakib Al Hasan is without a doubt, the most prolific cricketer from Bangladesh. Though, that might change with the emergence youngsters like Mustafizur Rahman and Mehedi Hasan. Shakib can fit into any side solely as a bowler, his batting adds as a bonus. A bonus skill of batting with an average of 39, anybody would be tempted to have him as their number 8. Personally, I have always felt the need to have a left arm spinner as they are never easy to face, in any conditions. The perfect fit, for any Test XI. For me, it was a toss up between Ravindra Jadeja and Shakib, but Shakib outdoes Jadeja in the batting department, by a mile. Shakib is a very smart bowler, with those loopy leggies and the occasional rank turner deliveries and that make him very hard to face, even outside of the sub-continent. A consistent line and length, even on his off days, he doesn't leak too many runs.

9) Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Mitchell Starc is as good as it gets. In my opinion, the greatest fast bowler of this generation. Watching him deliver those deadly toe crushers is an absolute pleasure. He is no slouch when it comes to bowling those 'leather smelling' bouncers as well. His first over dismissal record in Test cricket is simply phenomenal. If Johnson was a 10, then Starc is an 11, without a doubt. That brilliant spell of fast bowling against New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup is still fresh in my mind. On a given day, this man is as good as anyone who has ever played the game.

10) Trent Boult (New Zealand)

Oh, imagine the very sight of watching Starc and Boult bowling in tandem! Not to take anything away from Boult's individual skill though. A brilliant bowler who possesses a very deadly in-swinger with the new ball. Boult bowls surprisingly well for a fast bowler even in sub-continental conditions, something which I consider as a serious skill. Doesn't lag behind in the pace column as well, right up there in the mid 140's on his day. Can be very difficult to play when he gets his rhythm going, something which has become a very common sight over the past few years.

11) Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)

Kagiso Rabada would be the perfect finish to this absolutely intimidating bowling line up. Just 21 years of age, Rabada has taken the cricketing world by storm. It's amazing how fast he has picked up on the art of reverse swing. Stokes and Rabada bowling with the old ball with their reverse swing skills would be an absolute treat to watch! Particularly important on sub-continental wickets, as I stated earlier. Rabada runs in an gives his 100 percent each time he delivers the ball, and easily clocks in at 150 kmph, on any given day. Don't get me wrong, he is really good with the new ball as well, just that i wouldn't want him to start because I feel he is better off with a slightly older ball, with Boult and Starc doing the honors.

12th Man- Yasir Shah (Pakistan)

This, I feel is the best possible team to take on any opposition, in any sort of conditions.

Will be making one for ODI's and T20's as well.

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